UNITED STATES SUBMARINE VETERANS INCORPORTATED PALMETTO BASE NEWSLETTER March 2013
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OUR CREED: To perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit of duties while serving their country. That their dedication, deeds, and supreme sacrifice be a constant source of motivation toward greater accomplishments. Pledge loyalty and patriotism to the United States of America and its constitution. UNITED STATES SUBMARINE VETERANS INCORPORTATED PALMETTO BASE NEWSLETTER March 2013 1 Lost Boats 3 Picture of the Month 11 Members 12 Honorary Members 12 CO’s Stateroom 13 XO’S Stateroom 14 Meeting Attendees 15 Minutes 15 Old Business 16 New Business 16 Good of the Order 16 Base Contacts 17 Birthdays 17 Welcome 17 Binnacle List 17 Quote of the Month 17 Member Profile of the Month 18 Traditions of the Naval Service 23 Dates in U.S. Naval History 25 Dates in U.S. Submarine History 30 Submarine Memorials 47 Rally for Our Veterans 48 Monthly Calendar 49 Advertising Partners 50 2 USS Perch (SS-176) Lost on March 3, 1942 near Java with no immediate loss of life, while on her 1st war patrol. She survived 2 severe depth chargings in less than 200 Lost on: feet of water by 3 Japanese destroyers. The crew abandoned ship and scuttled her. Of the 61 officers and men taken prisoner, 53 survived the war. Navy Photo / NavSource.com NavSource.org Class: SS 172 Commissioned: 11/19/1936 Launched: 3/9/1936 Builder: Electric Boat Co (General Dynamics) Length: 301 , Beam: 25 #Officers: 5, #Enlisted: 45 Fate: Had to be scuttled on 3 Mar 42 because of Japanese anit-submarine attempts. Most of the Perch crew were taken to illegal question camp of Ofuna, NavSource.org Japan and were forced to work mines until the close of WWII. 3 USS Grampus (SS-207) Lost on March 5, 1943 with the loss of 72 officers and men, on her 6th war Lost on: patrol. She was lost in Vella Gulf, sunk after engaging 2 Japanese Destroyers. US Navy Official Photo NavSource.org Class: SS 198 Commissioned: 5/23/1941 Launched: 12/23/1940 Builder: Boston Navy Yard Length: 307 , Beam: 27 #Officers: 6, #Enlisted: 54 Fate: In company with USS Grayback, Grampus departed Brisbane, Australia on her 6th war patrol from which she failed to NavSource.org return, the manner of her loss still remains a mystery today. 71 men lost. 4 USS H-1 (SS-28) Lost on March 12, 1920 with the loss of 4 men as they tried to swim to after grounding on a shoal off Santa Margarita Island, off the coast of Baja Lost on: California, Mexico. Vestal (AR-4), pulled H-1 off the rocks in the morning of 24 March, only to have her sink 45 minutes later in some 50 feet of water. She was originally named the USS Seawolf before becoming H-1. NavSource.org US Navy Official Photo Class: SS H Commissioned: 12/1/1913 Launched: 5/6/1913 Builder: Union Iron Works Length: 150 , Beam: 16 #Officers: 1, #Enlisted: 23 Fate: As H-1 made her way up the coast, the submarine went aground on a tricky shoal off Santa Margarita Island, CA. Four men, including the Commanding NavSource.org Officer, LCDR. James R. Webb, were killed as they tried to reach shore. 5 USS Triton (SS-201) Lost on March 15, 1943 with the loss of 74 men. She was sunk north of the Admiralty Islands during a fight with 3 Japanese Destroyers. Triton was the Lost on: 1st boat to engage the enemy in December 1941 off Wake Island, sinking 9 ships, 1 submarine and a destroyer. US Navy Official Photo BC Patch Class: SS 198 Commissioned: 8/15/1940 Launched: 3/25/1940 Builder: Portsmouth Navy Yard Length: 307 , Beam: 27 #Officers: 6, #Enlisted: 54 Fate: Triton was reported overdue and presumed lost with 74 men. NavSource.org 6 USS Kete (SS-369) Lost on March 20, 1945 with the loss of 87 officers and men at the end of Lost on: her 2nd war patrol. Probably sunk near Okinawa, by a Japanese submarine that itself was subsequently lost. US Navy Official Photo NavSource.org Class: SS 285 Commissioned: 7/31/1944 Launched: 4/9/1944 Builder: Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co Length: 312 , Beam: 27 #Officers: 10 , #Enlisted: 71 Fate: While steaming eastward, she sent in a weather report from a position south of Colnett Strait. Scheduled to arrive Midway by 31 March, she was NavSource.org neither seen nor heard from again. 87 men lost. 7 USS F-4 (SS-23) Lost on March 25, 1915 with the loss of 21 men. She foundered 1.5 miles off of Honolulu when acid corrosion of the lead lining of the battery tank Lost on: let seawater into the battery compartment, causing loss of control. She was raised in August 1915. NavSource.org US Navy Official Photo Class: SS F Commissioned: 5/3/1913 Launched: 1/6/1912 Builder: Seattle Construction & Drydock Co Length: 143 , Beam: 15 #Officers: 1, #Enlisted: 21 Fate: The remains of F-4 were buried as fill in a trench off the Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor,HI. 8 USS Tullibee (SS-284) Lost on March 26, 1944 with the loss of 79 officers and men, on her 4th war patrol. It's believed she was a victim of a circular run by one of her own Lost on: torpedoes. The lookout was the only survivor and he survived the war as a Japanese prisoner. US Navy Official Photo NavSource.org Class: SS 212 Commissioned: 2/15/1943 Launched: 11/11/1942 Builder: Mare Island Navy Yard Length: 307 , Beam: 27 #Officers: 6, #Enlisted: 54 Fate: (Cont'd) About 2 minutes later, the submarine was rocked by a violent explosion. Apparently, one of Tullibee’s own torpedoes ran a circular course and NavSource.org sank the submarine that had launched it. 79 men lost. 1 survived. 9 USS Trigger (SS-237) Lost on March 26, 1945 with the loss of 91 officers and men, on her 12th war patrol. She was lost during a combined attack by Japanese Lost on: antisubmarine vessels and aircraft. Trigger ranked 7th in total tonnage sunk and tied for 8th in number of ships sunk. US Navy Official Photo NavSource.org Class: SS 237 Commissioned: 1/31/1942 Launched: 10/22/1941 Builder: Mare Island Navy Yard Length: 312 , Beam: 27 #Officers: 6, #Enlisted: 54 Fate: Postwar Japanese records showed a Japanese aircraft detected and bombed a submarine. Surface ships were then guided to the spot and NavSource.org delivered an intensive depth charging. After two hours, a large oil slick appeared. 10 Six U.S. Navy submarines nested together, circa 1939-1941. Probably seen from Canopus (AS-9) in Manila Bay, Philippines. The inboard submarine is not identified. The others are (from left to right): Pike (SS-173) ; Tarpon (SS- 175) ; Porpoise (SS-172) ; Perch (SS-176) and Permit (SS-178). Source: http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08316.htm 11 Brian Steffen Vice CDR : D. W. Eggleston Jr. Vice CDR : Randy Browning Secretary : George “Scram” Kokolis Treasurer : J. P. Watson Chaplain : Bob Miller Chief of the Boat : Jim “Snake” Stark Webmaster : Mark Basnight Storekeeper : Ken Fuhr Kap(SS) 4 Kid(SS) Chair : Don Van Borsch Events Chair : Allen “Buzz” Danielson Fund Raising Chair : Ted R. Schneeberg Liaison : D. W. Eggleston Committee Chair : Tom O’Brien Ship’s Photographer : Jim Null Bereavement Chair : Randy Browning Newsletter Editor : Randy Browning Milt Berkey Kenneth Johnson Tom Paige James L. Charbonneau James N. Kirby Larry Peay Tracy R. Charbonneau Arnold Kirk Tommy Richardson Ronald Friend Ross Kline James P. Scott Julian Galloway John J. Krause Vince Seay Joseph E. Gawronski Harold R. Lane Leonard M. Snell Joseph L. Geiger Charles Mink John Solis Glenn E. Harris Bob Molchan L. E. Spradlin Stoney Hilton Mark Morgan Jerry Stout Michael Hoadley David Nates Thomas N. Thompson John Jeffries John Nesbitt Jeffro M. Wagner Judy Cline Charlie MacKenzie Medal of Honor Recipient, Holland Club, Plankowner, Past District Commander, Past Base Commander, Past Vice Commander, Past Junior Vice Commander, Past Secretary, Past Treasurer, Past Chaplain, Palmetto Base Hall of Fame, Palmetto Silver Star Award 12 Gentlemen, Good evening. With spring, comes all kinds of activities for us, parades, massing of the colors, Memorial Day preps, float construction and fourth of July. Any and all help is greatly appreciated, attendance and participation desired. I received my copy of FRA, NAUS and DAV magazines this week and stories appeared in each and every one concerning veteran suicide, veteran claims assistance and the morale of veterans. A lot of people are talking about it and NOTHING is happening. People talk about term limits in Congress and I say we, as registered voters, can ensure term limits and vote in someone who will take care of us! I watched Fox News this morning and an interview was conducted on VA benefits and how difficult it is to obtain. They interviewed the Seals involved with Osama Bin Laden operation. And the seal found out after the fact that he could have received five years of medical and other benefits, however no one told him. In my opinion the VA hopes that no one will seek out their benefits. No one will apply and the ever shrinking VA budget avoids taking care of a veteran. With all attempts to balance the budget the DOD and elderly are the first destination for cuts. When the DOD has cuts, the VA falls under them and the veteran is who suffers, less doctors, less nurses, less medicines carried in the pharmacy, reduced hours due to the reduced staff.